Cal Poly, Apricot Twist, Magic Wand, Sweet Chariot, Popcorn, Little Meghan, Blue Mist, Unconditional Love, and Cinderella have all shown superior resistance to Blackspot in my climate. I am likely forgetting one or two others and will list them when/if I think of them) Of the 400 or so other miniature varieties I grow, these are the clear standouts as far as Blackspot resistance goes; most others suffer to some degree from the disease. Many of that 400 suffer from disease quite badly unless treated with fungicide. Your experience might vary, since disease issues are climate/region specific.

The grocery store "disposables" were never bred to have disease resistance, since they were intended for greenhouse conditions where fungicide treatment is a given.

Argh! Looks like all of your blackspot resistant varieties (and I thank you) are not the kind of roses I like. I like the "tea rose" look, and I like the bicolors, the pinks or corals tinged with yellow, etc. Most of your blackspot resistant roses seem to be the single rose, like the original wild roses. Are there any that are of the "tea rose" type which will be blackspot resistant? Or am I asking for the moon?

You mean 'Apricot Twist' isn't "Tea rose" enough for your tastes? I'm surprised, I would have thought it would be right on the money:

Oh yes, Apricot Twist is just the shape I like. Are there any bicolor ones like that which are blackspot resistant?

My 3 blackspot-prone minis are in a raised bed. When hopefully I get 3 NEW minis which are blackspot resistant, would planting the old minis in pots help reduce the blackspot? Or should I just toss 'em? I hate throwing away live plants.

Hi Esther,
I can't think of any bicolored varieties that are anywhere near as Blackspot free as the ones I have noted. However, there is a possibility that 'Magic Carousel' might do well in your region. The climate conditions that affect severity of Blackspot infection is different in NY then it is in coastal OR, so 'Magic Carousel' might be great in your area. Here, it does lose some foliage from disease, but many growers report that it is one of their best selections, so it might be worth trying.

As I mentioned earlier, the grocery store mini roses were bred for greenhouse cultivation, not the open garden. It is highly unlikely there is anything you can do, cultivation-techniques wise, that will improve their resistance to Blackspot. If you have found that sprays won't control the disease, then you would be best to relegate these plants to a windowsill where they won't get their leaves wet, ever or just chalk it up to a learning experience and toss them out.

I don't have room in my windowsill for these 3 minis, my windowsill being full of succulents and cacti. I really HATE throwing them out, makes me feel like an ax murderer. But I just can't go through another summer spraying and spraying and watching the leaves fall off. Would I have to replace all the soil in the raised planter they're in if I get new resistant minis?

"Would I have to replace all the soil in the raised planter they're in if I get new resistant minis?"

That isn't necessary, no. Unless of course, the soil is already over 2 years old, in which case a refresh would be wise; typical potting soil mixes don't perform well after about two years, since they tend to lose all their nutrients quite quickly.

I don't know of any minis that are black spot proof. Most will indeed spot to some degree. I have upwards of 40 of them now and they all spot. The ones with the most resistance are usually not the exhibition form you are looking for but the more decorative/garden pom-pom shape. The most spot resistant one I have is called Softee.

If you are growing them in containers you will need to fertilize them more frequently than you would for ones grown in the ground. As Trospero said some of the nutrients are washed out through the pots so you need to add fertilizer more often.

Are regular roses more blackspot resistant? Maybe I'd be better off planting 2 regular rosebushes instead of 4 minis.

I grow in New Milford PA - I have another year till I can really help.